Every hive inspection holds more than meets the eye. While the basics—brood, eggs, stores, space, and health—are essential, the real lessons often come from what we overlook. When a hive suddenly fails after “looking fine” just weeks before, something was missed. Learning to look beyond the obvious and view each inspection as part of a bigger picture can reveal early warning signs and help prevent future problems—often hiding in plain sight.
If you’ve ever walked out to find a dead hive and thought, what happened?—you’re not alone. Hive forensics helps you read the clues your bees left behind, understand what went wrong, and protect your colonies moving forward.
By: Rob Snyder Bee Informed Partnership: Honey Bee Field Specialist Chalkbrood mummy that has started to sporulate. When the mummy turns black the fruiting bodies are ready to be transferred to pollen and honey by worker movement in the hive....
By: Mary Reed - Past Texas Chief Apiary Inspector Entomologist - Secretary, Apiary Inspectors of America Texas Master Beekeeper Program Manager I grew up in a rural part of Florida with parents who allowed their children to roam the great...
A good brood pattern doesn’t mean a whole hive, or queen, is in good health. But, it’s one of the indicators that the brood is overall healthy, and at the moment, so is the queen. If you are new to...
By: Mary Reed Texas Chief Apiary Inspector Entomologist - Secretary, Apiary Inspectors of America Texas Master Beekeeper Program Manager I remember when I first got into beekeeping. I was overwhelmed with anticipation of getting to watch my bees grow...
